The number of asylum applications in Portugal fell by 37% in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to data released today by the European Union Agency for Asylum. The report highlighted the low overall influx of applicants entering the country.
According to the latest study on asylum in the European Union, the number of applications dropped from 2,797 to 1,763. The top three countries of origin for international protection seekers in Portugal last year were Colombia at 14%, China at 10%, and Angola at 9%.
Portugal receives a mere 0.2% of the total applications registered within the EU+ universe, which includes the 27 member states and Schengen-associated countries. By December 2025, there were 8,730 pending cases, representing a 94% increase compared to the 4,510 cases pending in the same month of 2024.
Meanwhile, first-instance decisions decreased by 24%, falling from 641 down to 488. The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) also noted that refugee status was granted to 288 people in 2025.
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This figure represents a 4,014% surge compared to 2024, when only seven people were granted status, with the majority being Afghans, Syrians, and Eritreans. Conversely, negative decisions dropped 69% from 633 to 134, mostly affecting citizens from China, Guinea-Conakry, and Gambia.
The EUAA further reported that Portugal has not yet transposed the legislative amendments required to activate the Pact on Migration and Asylum. No draft bill had been officially published by the conclusion of the yearly reporting period.
However, the report notes that at the end of 2025, the government launched public consultations regarding legislative reforms to restructure detention and alternative measures for return purposes. The plan aims to centralize return competencies within the Foreigners and Borders Unit of the Public Security Police.
Throughout 2025, the country prepared for the implementation of the Migration Pact, scheduled to enter into force on the 12th of this month. This included hiring additional staff for the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum.
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The agency introduced workflow improvements, new models, and digital tools, which helped reduce decision-making times and ensured compliance with legal deadlines across various procedures.
In February 2025, the procedure for submitting subsequent applications for international protection was modified, introducing clearer rules to guarantee greater efficiency. Regarding the accommodation of protection seekers, the agency noted an increase in reception center capacity, including specialized residential units designed specifically for unaccompanied minors.
Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms were also established to ensure compliance with reception standards and quality indicators. In February 2025, the construction of two new temporary holding centers for third-country nationals was authorized to assist with border screening and return procedures.
Across all EU+ countries, the number of international protection applications decreased for the second consecutive year to a total of 800,000 in 2025. The EUAA attributed this decline to political developments in key countries of origin.
